OotP

[rm]

This was remarkably Descensus-compliant, what with the vibe between Lucius and Bella, a Harry I finally really liked (despite hating him in this book), the look of Grimaud place, and the fact that the director entirely understood that this thing is a fucking tragedy!

I loved Luna, who I've never much cared about in the books. I loved seeing Neville's parents (which really helped ot underscore the great losses of the Marauders/Snape-era generation). I loved cedric's picture nodding approvingly when Cho and Harry kissed. Umbridge was so perfect I could barely stand to be in the theater. I like everyone being freaked out at Ginny's power and there was some interesting and I think accidental things about women throughout -- a woman dstroying a room entirely full of prophecies fascinated me, as did Luna trying to feed apples to the thestrals.

As for Snape -- the new wig is good. And I like that he seemed pretty fucking stressed out and tired and frustrated. The movies are, however, doing a crap job highlighting his ambiguity and I don't know what that's going to do to movie 6. I also though the Snape's worst memory thing lacked the emotional punch it needed, although Kali said that young Snape looked and moved so much like me it creeped her out, and that was pretty cool.

I actualy liked Sirius in this one.

And OMG, so Sirius/Remus. In fact, Remus, dealing with his own grief while having to deal with harry's grief in the department of mysteries was awesome.

Lucius is pretty bad ass. Also, did we notice the cane being used like rapier and dagger -- when the wand pulls out of the top the rest of the can is not just a sheath for it, no, it works as a wand too. Question: do we have any idea what the core of Lucius' wand is? I'd have to say dragon hearstring, just fo the length, as it's probably a single core running through both sections of the cane, right?

I'm feel eh about Kingsley Shacklebolt. I wanted him to be hotter, and I certainly didn't want the movie to encourage fandom's "mystical negro" problem, but there we are.

I thought the ministry stuff and the Orwellian stuff with the minister was incredible, but that they fell down on the stuff with the students on the inquisitorial squad. How hard would it have been, really, to give us another ten seconds or so to make them seem menacing as opposed to just snoops?

The costuming has become so random, it's hard to even get pissed abut it anymore, but WTF. The Death Eaters need to put down the fucking Armani.

Also: preview for The Golden Compass, which despite petty changes that irked me (Asriel's short hair, Mr.s Coulter becoming blonde) really, really seems to understand the material, have a smart, cogent design and be as interested in the story of the adults as in the story of the children.

Comments

[rufus.livejournal.com]

dude, I saw Draco in the suit (*again*) and I could almost hear you making outraged noises.

and I completely agree with you re: Umbridge. *shudder*

[rm.livejournal.com]

That boy is fiiiiiiine, but that suit is in the wrong fucking movie.

[rufus.livejournal.com]

yessss.

i would also like to know why Remus' face was all puffy and misshapen. though perhaps we're meant to be chalking it up to werewolves?

[izzerwurst.livejournal.com]

he probably put on some weight..

[izzerwurst.livejournal.com]

The suit is hot, but godammit, it's the SAME SUIT as in GOF, no? I didn't think he would be seen in the same outfit so soon. Lol.. Maybe he has like 20 of them.... He probably has like 80 school uniforms.

[superdork37.livejournal.com]

The movies are, however, doing a crap job highlighting his ambiguity and I don't know what that's going to do to movie 6.

I completely agree [and I also completely forgot to mention this in my own review...] After seeing this movie my impression of Snape was that he is 100% working for Dumbledore...not a doubt in my mind. So yes, I do wonder where that's going to leave them when they make the 6th movie. It's also interesting because the 7th book is coming out in a week and I think it might influence people's reactions if Snape turns out to be a "foe" [as Borders has so concisely put it :P]

I'm feel eh about Kingsley Shacklebolt. I wanted him to be hotter, and I certainly didn't want the movie to encourage fandom's "mystical negro" problem, but there we are.

YES! Another thing I forgot to mention! Why did he have to be so...ethnic? Why couldn't he just be a black guy that doesn't look like he just got off the plane from Africa?

Overall though, I think they did a very good job of sticking to the canon and I really enjoyed this movie :)

[izzerwurst.livejournal.com]

Re: Kingsley -- i KNOW. i hated that.

[beemerbike.livejournal.com]

I think Kingsley looked like some sort of Kwanza easter egg. I understand this is happening in some sort of alternate time-present, but not every educated black man dresses like that. He'd have looked better in the armani.

[rm.livejournal.com]

Agreed. I'm all for there being people in the wizarding world who do dress like that, but I was really sort of banking on hot secret agent man with him, and had a lot of WTF over it. And while I don't actually have a problem with fannish stories looking at actual magickal practices (when it works it WORKS), if I read one more crappy Snape/Kingsley voodoo mess I'm going to SCREAM.

[keever.livejournal.com]

I was so grateful for those two seconds of the camera lingering on Remus after Harry escaped his grasp, I can't even tell you. And I don't just say that from a shipper's perspective -- Goldenberg and Yates clearly remembered that in that moment, Remus has just lost the last of his close friends. Tragedy, yes.

[rm.livejournal.com]

Yup and stylistically they learned a critical lesson from Gandalf's fall in LotR. Quiet, slow.

[miep.livejournal.com]

Luna-- a bit overly-floaty, but entirely darling. but she's a Ravenclaw and didn't get much chance to show it. Irish?

Ministry of Magic scenes -- oh. so good.

I need to see it again. the detail in this one was outstanding.

[rm.livejournal.com]

I liked Luna because she was so clearly odd and so clearly wise, and most importantly of all -- she seemed happy. terrible things had happened to her, peopel didn't understand her, but she was happy. And I'm not sure you can say that about anyone else in this world.

[miep.livejournal.com]

She's growing on me in memory. What kind of girl keeps both an apple and raw meat in her bookbag???

In the movie, however, the nargles and other creatures she talks about seem more like lies she tells herself to cope with loss and bullying, and less like truths that she is the only one to recognize, but it's sort of okay.

[trifles.livejournal.com]

We agree entirely with this point. In addition, Beth points out how the movie maintained Luna's specialness to Harry, as being someone who is particularly able to understand his situation. I appreciate that it didn't spark a Teh Romance feel, which I could easily see such sorts of connections drifting toward.

[greyenglishrain.livejournal.com]

I so agree about Luna. In the books she's so-so, but I adored her in the film. And yes, this film is so Sirius/Remus! Which I love. 'Cause that's my thing. ;)